Multistorey Building with symmetric and

unsymmetric plan
Presented by
Deepthi V
Mtech - Structural Engineering
AWH Engineering College
1

A simple and symmetrical structure( eg: a square or circular shape) will

have the greatest chance of survival during earthquake for the
following reasons
a) The ability to understand the overall behaviour of a structure is markedly
greater for a simple one than it is for a complex one.
b) The ability to understand structural details is considerably greater for
simple structures than it is for complicated ones
Buildings regular in plan and elevation, without re-entrant corners or
discontinuities in transferring the vertical loads to the ground, display good
seismic behaviour . It is important that the plan of the structure is
symmetrical in both directions

Size of Buildings
In tall buildings with large height-to- base size ratio, the horizontal
movement of the floors during ground shaking is large. In short but very long
buildings, the damaging effects during earthquake shaking are many. These
may be subjected to different earthquake movements simultaneously at the two
ends leading to disastrous results. As an alternative such buildings can be
broken into a number of separate square buildings. In buildings with large plan
area like warehouses, the horizontal seismic forces can be excessive to be
carried by columns and walls.

Horizontal layout of Building

In general, buildings with simple geometry in plan have performed well during
strong earthquakes. Buildings with re-entrant corners, like those U, V, H and +
shaped in plan, have sustained significant damage. Many times, the bad effects of
these interior corners in the plan of buildings are avoided by making the building in
two parts as shown in figure .But there must be enough clearance at the seperation
joints so that the adjoining portions do not pound each other. The probable reason
for damage is the lack of proper detailing at the corners.

Vertical layout of Buildings

The earthquake forces developed at different floor levels in a building need to be
brought down along the height to the ground by the shortest path; any deviation or
discontinuity in this load transfer path results in poor performance of the building.
Buildings with vertical setbacks cause a sudden jump in earthquake forces at the
level of discontinuity. Buildings that have fewer columns or walls in a particular
storey or unusually tall storey tend to damage or collapse which is initiated in that
storey. Many buildings with an open ground storey intended for parking collapsed or
were severely damaged during earlier earthquakes. Buildings on sloppy, ground
have unequal height columns along the slope, which causes ill effects like twisting
and damage in shorter columns. (Set back: abrupt changes in floor area along the
height of the building)

Buildings with columns that hang

or float on beams at an intermediate
storey and do not go all the way to the
foundation, have discontinuities in the
load transfer path. Some buildings
have reinforced concrete walls to carry
the earthquake loads to the foundation.
Buildings in which these walls do not
go all the way to the ground but stop at
an upper level, are liable to get
severely damaged during earthquakes.

Adjacency of Buildings
When two buildings are too close to each other, they may pound on each
other during strong shaking. With increase in building height, this collision can
be a greater problem. When building heights do not match, the roof of the
shorter building may pound at the mid-height of the column of the taller one, this
can be very dangerous.

Thank you